Learning and Working of Thai Multinational Corporation Personnel in Myanmar

Abstract

This article aims to analyze learning and working of personnel in Thai multinational corporations investing in Myanmar, and is the result of a research study on the project “Managing Cultural Diversity in the Multinational Corporations: Case Studies of Burmese Labors’ Working Culture in the Thai Companies in Myanmar”. The results of the analysis revealed that learning through working is a means of acquiring knowledge. Experience-based understanding is used to reach the desired outcomes of working effectively. It is a learning culture that has emerged from the usual convention and evolved through different eras to define its meaning. “Modern learning” processes and methods are separated from the old style of learning in the education system, and are a form of learning that produces people ready to work according to the needs of today's society. Learning according to the original definition, or “folk learning,” still exists in some areas, such as Myanmar, where there is too little modern learning management to meet the needs of society. When multinational corporations come to invest, they have to recruit local personnel with local learning to do the work. Some corporations have to prepare plans to promote learning and work for their personnel so that they can continue to operate. But some places don't have such a plan, causing problems for work. For example, it is not possible to deliver technology to the Myanmar people as the corporations have promised with the government. The analysis suggested that in this situation, multinational corporations should focus on traditional learning by organizing educational activities. Knowledge of working partners for personnel in the corporation should be systematic, so that such processes and methods of learning can create learning and working for personnel according to their needs.